The Great Horned Owl

Image courtesy of Rosemary Ratcliff at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One of the largest birds in our area is the Great Horned Owl.  I have often heard them at night, especially in the late summer, when they can be heard calling to their young (especially on foggy nights).  It is a very distinct call, similar to "whowhowho-who-who-whoo."  Sometimes they also fly into the yards late at night, where they can be seen perching on top of the tallest trees and even on street lights.  I have also seen them on several occasions in the late afternoon, when I have walked through Mandan Park, and they have floated across the road in front of me like large grey ghosts.

National Geographic says mature great horned owls have a wingspan of up to 4.8 feet.  Having seen them up close, I have no trouble believing this...their wingspan looked like it was 6 feet to me! I always experience a slight thrill of fear when I see them, simply because they are so large, although I have never had one threaten me in any way.  In fact, they hardly seemed to notice me.

They always seem impervious to the human activity around them, especially when they are hunting or sitting high on top of a tree or a light pole.  Even when we have pointed at them, and walked around trying to get a better glimpse of us, they simply ignore us (or at least pretend to!)  The only time they seem reluctant to remain in my yard is when I let my very large dog outside, whereupon they usually will fly away.

Great Horned Owls are known for their hunting skills, and I have even heard about them preying on other large birds, but in this area, their favorite prey seems to be rodents.  It is the only thing I have actually witnessed them preying upon in all the years I have lived near them.  In spite of this, I still make sure to walk very close to my small dogs when I let them outside, just in case one of them happens to be lurking nearby!

Do you have any interesting information/stories to share about Great Horned Owls? If so, please leave a post!

White-Tailed Deer

                                                   Two Fawns by Mandan Park (filmed by SCB)

Some of the most popular backyards visitors in our area are the white-tailed deer that live in and around Mandan Park.  They are numerous enough that we often see groups of them at dusk and even late in the afternoon, as well as early in the morning.  Some of them have even been bold enough to jump my fence and come into my yard to eat my shrubbery (sand cherries seem to be a favorite of theirs).

I have read that deer like corn, and putting it out in the winter may attract them, but I have never had them come into the yard for it when I have put it out.  Some of the neighbors put leftover apples out for them (which I have never actually seen them eat, but the apples do eventually disappear).  Other people have put out salt licks, and they do frequently visit these.

There are deer feeders available at hardware stores (which I have periodically considered purchasing, and may end up doing someday soon).  There is also grass seed available you can purchase and plant that they tend to favor (and which also tends to be healthy for them).  I have also heard that deer absolutely love acorns (so if you happen to have an oak tree, you may be in luck!)  The only drawback about feeding them is that they will sometimes dash across roads to get to urban backyards, causing numerous near accidents and some actual ones.

No matter when I see them, I am always pleasantly surprised.  They are certainly one of the loveliest animals that live in the Mandan Park area, and one of the most exciting to see.

The Blue Jay

Blue Jay (Image Courtesy of  Ron Bird at FreeDigitalPhotos.Net)

One of my absolute favorite backyard visitors is the Blue Jay.  In spite of their aggression (yes, I have been attacked by them when passing too close to one of their nests) and their unsavory habit of stealing other birds' babies for food, I still love to see them, and their antics never fail to amuse me.  My mother calls them "the big-mouthed" birds, and I have to admit that this description really does fit them.

Blue jays love sunflower seed.  They love mixed nuts even more and peanuts in the shell are one of their absolute favorites.  They are also fond of cat food, and when they find it scattered about, they will noisily call to all of their relatives until everyone has had a chance to get some.  When they find peanuts, they are usually more discrete, knowing that everyone loves peanuts (especially squirrels)! Instead of their usual raucous cry, they will make a cry that, for lack of a better description, sounds almost like they are saying "toodle-doodle-do."  In years past, when I would put the peanuts out for them, I would make my poor imitation of this call, and they would actually notice and come to get the peanuts.  If I put the peanuts out at a set time, they would hide nearby and call each other in the same way to let each other know the peanuts were about to magically appear.

I have heard that blue jays will imitate the noises hawks make in an attempt to scare other birds away from feeders, and I can vouch for this, having heard them do this myself.  When the other birds scattered in terror, they would swoop down, grab a mouthful of seed and hurry off.

Blue jays will also gang up on hawks in their family groups, gathering in various parts of the area where the hawk is and literally yelling at it until the hawk get tired of it and leave (whereupon the blue jays will pursue it and continue to make yell at it anyway).

I often wonder why I like them so much in spite of their awful behavior, and have to concede at least part of it must have to do with their looks.  On winter days, their plumage is like a little bit of blue sky, and can brighten even the gloomiest weather.  When you add their often comical antics into the mix (they are one of the few birds that literally make me laugh), you get an irresistible combination. No wonder they are one of everyone's favorite backyard visitors.